LAPD chief touts 5-year record of L.A. crime-fighting

Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton earlier this week touted his achievements to the new Police Commission and laid out future goals. Crime is down in all categories since he took office in 2002, with violent crimes down 31percent and property crimes down 25percent, he said.

"The credit goes to the men and women of this department who have been able to achieve this with virtually no increase in the size of the department," Bratton said. "We are only beginning to see the impact of new hires on the department."

And he said a federal consent decree governing the department's use of force has put the city at the nation's forefront in dealing with the issue. Bratton was hired after serving as one of the monitors of the consent decree and earns $300,422 a year in his post.

To City Councilman Dennis Zine, an avid Bratton supporter, the chief's ability is seen in a simple fact: "Crime is down."

"That's the one thing you use to judge a police chief. And he has done it without the officers he needs," he said.

But Councilman Bernard Parks, who preceded Bratton as chief, questioned whether the crime figures are accurate. Parks has long complained that the department changes the way it measures crime by eliminating domestic-violence cases. Bratton and the department argue that they follow federal crime reporting guidelines.

"It's easy to say you've reduced violent crime when you've taken 20,000 to 30,000 violent crimes out of the reports," Parks said. "The fact is, the people I represent, if you ask them, do not feel any safer today."

Bratton does have the highest level of City Hall support, however, with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

"Bill Bratton is the best chief in the United States," Villaraigosa said in a statement. "We are lucky to have him. He is the right man in the right job at the right time."

And Bratton has merged well into the civic life of Los Angeles. Replacing an African-American as police chief, Bratton has consistently reached out to black leaders in the city, visiting churches and community groups.

Bratton also has been able to repair relations with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which was frequently at odds with Parks and former Chief Willie Williams.

Bratton has opened a dialogue with the league and officers, has developed a more consistent discipline policy and is at the scene of all major incidents.

"We support the chief for another five-year term," the league said in a statement. "... He has shown the willingness to hear our views and weigh our positions on a variety of issues."